December 7, 2022
Each semester, we choose a few alumni to feature their stories and achievements since graduation. This time, we are excited to highlight Alger Lin (MSDABC CO’22), Guanhua Yao (MSDABC CO’20) and Tyler Lam (MSQF CO’22). See below for their stories.
Alger Lin (MS Data Analytics & Business Computing Class of 2022)
Tell us a bit about what you are doing now.
I am currently working at KPMG as an advisory associate in the financial service industry supporting their risk reporting departments. My typical day includes checking and answering emails, meetings with colleagues and managers, and communicating with different stakeholders. Daily routine varies based on the time of the month and day of the week. As I just started my career, I plan to stay in consulting for a couple of years while exploring different opportunities. There is so much to learn in the industry.
How do you feel your MS degree in Data Analytics & Business Computing prepared you for what you are doing now?
My MS degree showed me a different view of the business world. Many large companies are seeking automation and my MS degree allows me to understand why that is the trend. As the 21st century is the age of data, being able to utilize data efficiently brings a lot of value to the companies. At KPMG, people are getting educated on data literacy and AI. The MSDABC program allows me to get a head start on that. The capstone project I did really showed me how powerful analytics can be, helping me understand that even unstructured and unorganized data can be explored and organized into valuable insights, therefore opening up new opportunities and creating values for the companies.
Thank you so much for sharing! What is your advice for the current students and/or prospective students?
It’s very important to explore your interests. Knowing what you want to do in the future can save time and reduce the stress you will face. It’s also a good idea to plan out a timeline for different activities so you know what’s coming. In that way, you can plan ahead and won’t be stressed out by due dates and deadlines. In addition, it’s important to build a solid foundation of knowledge and skills necessary for your dream job while expanding your network. Both knowledge and network are crucial for getting a job offer, and they complement each other. Knowledge can help you network better while networking allows you to gain more knowledge.
Guanhua Yao (MS Data Analytics & Business Computing Class of 2020)
Tell us a bit about what you are doing now.
I am the Co-Founder & Chief Product Officer for Shanghai Synocodes Technology Development, a start-up company that digitalizes traditional social research. We want to develop an App for the qualitative sociology research in the short term, and then build a platform where companies can use our field research tools, analysis tools and market research reports to conduct qualitative business research. Having a BA in Sociology and then a MS in Data Analytics & Business Computing, I have always been interested in merging social sciences, statistical methods and business. My typical day is full of business development, business plan deck drafting, and technology development. Everyday is a brand new day with new plans and opportunities.
How do you feel your MS Data Analytics & Business Computing degree prepared you for what you are doing now?
I benefited a lot from the program, from the courses to professors and peers. I always tell others that I made the right decision to enroll in the program and invested the most valuable money since my 18th birthday. The MSDABC program helped me start this company with the necessary technical skills such as data modeling as well as a broader perspective of the business world. I found the Network Analytics course taught by Professor Bruno Abrahao most helpful. It showed me the strong connections between social science and data science. In the group project, I developed some NLP algorithms, which I am still using in my current role.
What is your advice for the current students and/or prospective students?
I always view the coursework as the most important part of the program. I believe that the knowledge and skills you learn from the program are so valuable. The program is very intensive and the knowledge is high-level. I still remember how I struggled to crack my statistics homework for nearly 8 hours with my roommates on a Sunday afternoon when I was studying in New York in the summer, but I persevered. Please be open-minded. Your hard skill matters the most. By diving into the coursework of the program, you may even find your calling and potential career like me.
Tyler Lam (MS Quantitative Finance Class of 2022)
Tell us a bit about what you are doing now.
I am currently a fixed income analyst analyzing and pricing securitized products at JPMorgan. My team and I generate pricing for subprime collateral RMBS, manage projects to enhance valuation models, and communicate with market participants regarding methodology, sector commentary and trend updates.
How do you feel your MS Quantitative Finance degree prepared you for what you are doing now?
It has been beneficial to both my career and personal life. With various advanced courses taught throughout the program and unique projects that I worked on, I gained practical knowledge in financial applications and was exposed to different topics to discuss during job interviews. I especially liked the Debt Instruments class taught by Professor Jennifer Carpenter. She covered all aspects of the fixed income world by giving practical calculations and inspired our passion in the sector. The other huge gain out of this MS degree for me was the friendship. We are currently working for different companies but we still stay in touch. The strong connection will benefit us in career exploration and any future work collaboration.
Can you tell us more about your experience with the Capstone project.
The capstone project is a very constructive course. Our team worked for several months calibrating and re-building on top of the existing model, which is something that happens in real life. We ended up having an intensive finished product to show to employers.
What is your advice for the current students and/or prospective students?
I would advise students to establish a career goal for themselves. Finding out what you want to do is a very important first step. From there, you will know what path you should take and have time to complete your work to show your skills and interests to the employers or investors. Also, be positive. If you do not get the roles, self-reflect and try to improve yourself based on the failures. Lastly, everyone's time is limited so try to maximize your time. You should make an effort to maintain a high GPA, take industry licenses, build strong projects, and connect to more people.